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Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies found Jacqueline Bell dead in her Cedar Mill home on Oct. 5. By nightfall, investigators were processing her home for evidence.
(Faith Cathcart/The Oregonian)

The cousins were arrested Oct. 5 after Oregon State Police spotted them in Bell’s 2006 green Lexus, reportedly traveling through eastern Oregon at speeds exceeding 130 mph. After a pursuit, the sedan was stopped near La Grande, about 250 miles away from Bell’s house in Washington County.

That same morning, the mother of one of Cain’s friends called police shortly after 8 a.m., and asked authorities to check on Bell, 71. Washington County sheriff’s deputies knocked on Bell’s door and no one answered. By 9:15 a.m., as they were preparing to enter her house through an unlocked back door, state police had requested a welfare check on Bell because the speeding vehicle they’d stopped near La Grande was registered to her.

Joda CainWCSO

Authorities say Cain was driving the car. Investigators found blood in both the driver's and passenger's side of the car, according to court records. Ward was reportedly wearing a bloody shirt and pants when he was arrested.

Micus WardWCSO

Cain moved from the suburbs of Kansas City, Mo., in the summer to live with his great-grandmother. At the time of the October arrest, according to records, Ward had recently come to Oregon from Kansas City to visit his cousin.

Both cousins face two counts of aggravated murder and two counts of murder in Circuit Court. Under Measure 11, Cain was charged as an adult. They are both in custody at the county jail.